The Matzos

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The Matzos play kicking klezmer - wild, soulful Eastern European melodies, infused with Jewish, Turkish, Arabic and Gypsy grooves. Exhilarating melodies tied to a driving beat that are guaranteed to lift the spirit and get audiences on their feet. 

The Matzos play upbeat Eastern European Jewish and Gypsy dance music with a primary focus on dance and celebration, with an impeccable record of getting audiences dancing until they drop. There is something about the driving ska-like beats of klezmer, the soul-wrenching minor melodies that transform into the emotional release of major passages and the infectious mixture of modern and traditional musical genres that lifts and delights audiences. And the light-hearted and fun style of the Matzos particularly encourages dancers to forget about whether they look good on the dance floor, throw self-consciousness to the winds, and just have a great time.

Quotes
"The gods stopped the rain to let the people dance when The Matzos hit the stage with their unique uplifting European soul music sound - a sensational must at any festival!" - Peace Messenger Festival 2002

"From 8 year olds to 80 - the magic of The Matzos' sound makes everyone shake and dance without fail." - Brighton Festival of Jewish Music 2003

"Hearing is believing - if you haven't you must, if you have you'll be smiling with joy!!!" - Global Beets Festival 5, 2003

"I've booked The Matzos twice and both times they were easy to deal with, worked the gig, played blinding sets and really got the crowd rucking on the dancefloor." - Sussex Arts Club

"My daughter, who is in a wheelchair, had spent the whole day moaning about why we had brought her, but once you came on she was a different person! - dancing in her wheelchair for the first time ever!! And this from a girl whose favourite band is Westlife!! Thank you so much". - Steve Walter at Rhythms of the World

"Their reputation precedes them, and no wonder; they have delivered the goods for us, time and time again. One of the finest exponents in the melting pot of Eastern European dance music sweeping across the country. Wild and mad, tight and together, cutting edge and timeless, all at the same time. Priceless." - Small World Solar Stage

“Beautiful music that was both upbeat and sorrowful – wowed their audience and got them dancing”.
“The group were dressed in white shirts and black trousers, giving them a universal quality, transcending time, as if from another era. The immediate enthusiasm of the band quickly spread to a feel good atmosphere throughout the tent so by the floor was packed with with people dancing and clapping. The audience’s dancing seemed to mirror the eclectic mix of music, with the audience dancing in a pseudo line/Russian/Barn dance stylie. The passion the band had for their music was infectious and unaffected… arms flailing, hands clapping and feet stomping. The night was a resounding success.” - BBC Southern Counties Website Review (Spiegletent, Brighton Festival 2006)

Public gigs to date include...
City of London Festival, Telford Holocaust Memorial Day event, , Andover Summer Sounds, Club Paprika @ The Latest Music Bar (Brighton), Telford Holocaust Memorial Day event, The Big Splash @ The Brighton Festival, The Jooglebery Playhouse (Brighton), Glastonbury Festival, Andover Summer Sounds, The Lyric Theatre (London), BBC Southern Counties Radio ‘South Live’, National Holocaust Memorial Day event (Cardiff), Brighton Festival Launch Party, BBC Southern Counties Radio Live, The Spiegeltent,  Buckswood Music Festival (Hastings), Folkstone ‘Picnic in the Park’ Festival, Globo Loco @ Cargo Club (London), Cardiff Festival, Spraoi Festival (Waterford, Ireland), ‘Off the Tracks’ (Derby),  Bigfest (Uxbridge),  ‘The Matzos Great Big New Year’s Eve Extravaganza’ @ The Brighton Komedia, Sussex NHS Trust staff ball, Juju Club (Sheffield), Hilingdon Street Arts, Horsham Street Arts, Hastings Street Festival, Spiegeltent, Rhythms of the World Festival. The Bull Arts Centre, Circus Space annual fair, Buddhafield festival, The Big Green Festival, Jewish Music Festival, Brighton, Steyning Christmas Fair, Hove Progressive Syngogue, Earth Spirit Festival, Harmony Peace Festival, Opening of Brighton's Jewish Film Festival.